St. Joseph County Independent, Volume 12, Number 15, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 9 October 1886 — Page 1

- 11 ii ■■■ _ qOU N Ty M Joseph Jniiepenbent

VOLUME XII.

DREAMS BENEATH THE PINES. BY W. A. PHID. In evening's glow of ft fading day J sit- beneath the murmuring pine, J >r< tuning of a heart far away; Dreaming, wishing it were mine. Stars smile brightly In the heavens high and blue, Smiling, dreaming sweetly; Darling, I am thinking of you, Dreaming of you. Soft as the blush of her fair cheek Through the pines, fragrant-laden breezes sigh, Bringing dreams of my wild Rose so sweet, Her fair face and loving, laughing eye ; Sparkling and bright, Like sparkling diamond drops of dew, Lips red and sweet; Darling,l am dreaming, thinking of you, Dreaming of you. Tine Grove, Chicago. DOLCE FAR NIENTE. *BY CHARLES EUGENE BANKS, Above the Orient hills the sun Peeped thro’ a mist of gold Which, downward from his ardent gaze, Into the valley roll’d, And fleeing night, with jealous hand, Plucked from tho changing skies Two sister stars and refuge sought Within my true-love's eyes. Nor o'er forsook that sacred place (Why leave a home so fair?) But set the stars as lamps of love To light the darkness there. And I, to know how fickle chance My fortunes may bestow, In faith consult those heavenly orbs Beneath her eyelids' glow. THE MYSTIC SIGN; OR, The King of the Mountain. By ABBIE C. M’KEEVER. CHAPTER XI. NEW DANGERS AND ENEMIES. After passing along a sinuous path she said: “Go on, pass between those two larger trees, and you will see the plains. Not far is Blue Gulch. Remember your promise. Good-by.” And she was gone. Jasper gave one hurried glance around after her retreating form, then turned to the spot she had indicated, thankful for his escajw, but sorely puzzled over his strange friends. He gained the old mountain trail, he saw the rolling plains in the distance, but the spot upon which he stood was unfamiliar. I He turned and walked swiftly down the trail. The afternoon sun was fast sinking behind the mountains when an Indian stepped from behind a tree and confronted him. Jasper felt for his revolvers, to rcmemIber, alas! that he was unarmed. "Ugh; ' grunted the red-skin. “Cattle King no brave. Buy all Indian’s catlie; keep Indian’s hunting ground. Indian hate Cattle King.” The red-skin evidently recognized him. and bis hate was felt, as well as expressed. Before Jasper could think what was best to do a band of twenty or more leaped net.. Three of their number seFced him, bound him, and, carrying him a short distance, placed him on the back of a pony. “Indians take Catte King home. Indians hate Cattie King.” And away the w’hole party dashed; w hither, he could not tell. Onward the ponies galloped over the rather uneven ground, taking a northerly direction. Jasper’s feelings were far from enviable. He had escaped one capitivity for another of far greater danger. He knew the nature of the redskins and how intensely they hated the white men who had, as they thought, appropriated their huntinggrounds. He felt satisfied unless he could make his escape from his present captors the horrors of torture awaited him. The fore part of the night had passed ere they paused for a halt, 1 lien only stopped long enough to let their ponies have a few mouthfuls of grass and a drink of water fromtl e North Platte as they crossed it. going toward the Indian country. The journey begun again ami continued at intervals of short rest for two days longer, when between two mountains in a fertile valley, through which flowed a small stream, they beheld an Indian village. The young cattle king was a'most exhausted with the long journey and short | rations allowed him. His situation was anything but cheerful. He was dragged along into the very h-art of the enemy's land, the bonds which had been partially loosed were firmly drawn again, and he was thrust into a small tent in the center of the village. For a wonder the tent was empty. Jasper felt certain ■ his time for torture had not yet airived, for with a sentinel stationed at his door !the Indians wandered off and lounged on the green sward, the most of them apparently going to sleep. I Jasper himself dozed a little, notwith- | standing his great anxiety and his deterU mination to escape, even if it ended in his recapture er death—for that wou’i be the end anyway if he remained in the redskins’ power. Though unarmed and bound, he noped for something to hike place that would be in his favor. Hope was one of the strong points of his nature. Toward noon an old squaw came in w here he lay bound, and, cutting the thongs binding his arms, ordered him to eat the dirtylooking mess she brought. He stretched out his aching aims and found it almost impossible to comply for a few minutes, they were so cramped. “White dog eat!” said the squaw, anl grily. “Oh,” said Jasper, “yon can talk English. Why was I taken captive and brought to your village? 1 thought you had signed the treaty of peace.” “Ugh!” grunted the squaw. “Cattle King take all our lands, kill game. Catlie King must die.” “How soon?” “AVhen other braves return from the south country. 'Then Cattle King dies.” “AVhen will that be?” “Come soon. Cattle King no have to wait long,” continued the old squaw, as if delighting in imparting her information. But Jasper was indeed glad of a reprieve. The old squaw d •parted. and for a wonder he was left unbound, the Indians probably thinking it impossible for him to leave their village unperceived, or escape from the strange country to which they had carried him. “I’m worth half a dozen dead men yet,” he thought, peering f om his tent. Near its door sat a sta wart red-sl.in. smoking his pipe conq laceu ly. '1 hey hid no in er.-tion of leaving him u gu rued, f r not far off a half-dozen others lulled on the ground. “Xo cl.ance whatever in the day-time, but to-night Imi t get off. 1 dare not del iy longer.” The” he nd down on the truly floor anil laid his plans for uture action. The country that he caught sight of throng' the rents in ’i- lent v. 43 of a tf?-;. pictur ■ que nature.

Blue mountains in the west, snow-capped; green valleys and towering hills near, with the murmur of a gurgling stream not far off. The day dragged on. The Indians smoked and lolled about. Dogs barked, but at last nightfall came with its dusky shadows. Fires were kindled here and there, and the old squaw returned with her bowl of vile mixture. Wnen she turned to depart it was the moment for which Jasper had looked so long. He knew the sentinel still lingered near, but now or never was his chance. He had been nearly all the afternoon patiently fashioning a sand-club; he had fanned it out of his coat sleeve, and when the old squaw’s back was turned he struck her a heavy blow that he hoped would only stun her. She s ink to the ground without one sound. He then securely tied his handkerchief over her mouth, bound her hands and feet, snatched off her shawl and ragged skirt and put them on his own person—not forgetting the knife she carried—and stooping, his tall figure emerged from the tent. The Indian guard gave him one glance as he passed, but said nothing. In the heavy gloom he had supposed it to bo the squaw. Jasper avoided the fires and the red-skins scattered about. A dog in a tent he passed rushed angrily toward him. He dropped the bowl ho carried, seized the snarling brute by the back of its neck and cut its throat before any unusual commotion could be noticed. He had gained the outskirts of the Indian village when a sound of horses’ feet fell on his ears. “The absent hunting party. They have returned; now I will be likely to have to run the gauntlet.” But he felt the keen edge of his knife, and resolved never to fall into their cruel hands a lire. The murmur of the stream was near. He hurriedly turned toward it and stepped into its shallow depths, proceeding along its banks in this manner in order to conceal his trail. There was, as yet, no unusual sound in the Indian village, and he surmised his escape had not been discovered. It was only a question of a few minutes, however, for the dead dog was sure to be found and the squaw be missed. But hark, what was that! Another Indian party returning, and they were coming directly toward him. Jasper crouched down in the gurgling stream until only his bead remained above the water. He heard them drawing nearer and nearer. CHAPTER XIL THE SECRET FOE. Mrs. Corinne Martin was restless in her splendid home; she thought of the black eyes of the girl who had watched her so knowingly the night of the opera. They had told her they read her more perfectly thin she wished. Dr. Marling informed her that they were boarding at his hotel. “A rich old ranchman and his pretty daughter, I learn, coming from the plains originally. But gir/s a deep one, ml the old man’s no fool, in spite of his queer Western ways.” “Have they tried to cultivate your acquaiutan e?” “Oh, yes, and I have theirs. lam anxious to know how that girl camo to know those private signals.” “Cahnat you discover?” “Not yet; she’s a witch. I’d give a cool thousand to know it.” “Have you heard aught of my brooch?” “No; I put a detective out on the look, but he has learned nothing as yet. How came you to wear^it so often? You knew if lost its secrets might become known.” “It had a charm for me. I trembled when I left it in my jewel case. One of the 1 owders was in it as well as the recipe.” “A nice affair, truly, to be throwing around promiscuously. Do you know 1 paid the old East Indian five hundred dollars for that recipe and an ounce vial of the powder.” “And how much have I paid you?” sarcastically inquired tin widow. “About five thousand, making a rough guess. But what was it worth to you?” “A million,” smiled the widow. “You can remember the recipe, can you not?” “Yes. if need be; but I trust there will be no fu ther requirements.” “I think there will,” replied the widow, significantly. “You mean this new rival? I object forthwith. I’ll have no risks about her. She’s got too many rich friends, and besides she’s too pretty.” “Bah! Have you heard from'Rick or the jewels?” “Not positively, but the two louts I sent out to look for him managed to get killed, as I told you. Rick must have been taken captive by the Indians and tortured to death. But, Corinne. I have learned something rather st irtling.” “What is it?” “Detective Joe Day, on the very night that your respected husband died, had a visitor.” “Who?” exclaimed the widow, her face paling. “Guess.” “How cruel you are! Not—not Lora?” The Doctor nodded. “How do you know? What made her visit him?” “That’s the mystery. But she did call upon him dressed in the housemaid’s clothe -. One of our spies has learned as much, and bo!h the detective and Lora have disa; peared.” “Oh, bow unfortunate! She must have suspected something.” “I rather think she did, and if Detective Day is on your track with a motive, I wouldn’t care to stand in your^hoes.” “He’d be a fool to undertake such a senseless affair, and besides what can h* j r v 1 o ; w. re an idiot not to c nsei t to > ,t n ; her out of the way. There’s 1 o t lug what sh -’s up to. When you go to your looms, if you will bring me that ivory b x nd those papers to destroy I will piy yo 1 t. e sum y < u ask.” ’ A ci <1 hundred thousand?” “Yes; but you are extremely modei-t in y our demands, considering that you stole the papers from me.” “Possession is nine-tenths of the law, fair sister. 1 will hiring them this af.emoou. Von can give me Checks on the various ba- In where your credit is good, it will not a tr a t so mncli attention to have several; and as I have promis d the lovely Miss Sc.><t to ride with her this afternoon, I must r> turn :• t once. ” The widow’s eyes flashed angrily. ‘ On hor eback, 1 suppose.” “Oh, yes. she rides beautifully.” But when the Doctor Lad departed the widow summoned to her side a servant whose fa fhfulne? s had been long tried. •‘Follow him, ascertain the roads he is ii I'v to take with this girl, and come and ieli m .” 'i he man l owed and departed. He retnrimd in an hour with the information she ic piired. Tien bis mistress said in a low tone: “I wish you to manage some way to have ler thrown and ki led, if possible. She is an enemy of m ne.” “She wi 1 find the roads Lad to-day, Miss c .-ri ue.” said ihg meaningly, ie:j Ud.”

WALKERTON, ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, INDI ANA, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9,18 HG.

Tess Scott kept her own fine horse in the I stables, a little black creature, spirited, swift, and accustomed to the mountain j roads. But there was one thing Black Ned abominated, and that was to be cut ever so lightly with a whip. Tess never attempted carrying the offensive article, affirming she respected his haughty dislike, and that there was no need, as he obeyed her voice without a protest or other urging. Very lovely she looked in her dark green habit and glittering buttons —every one a tiny diamond. She sat her horse plike a native Indian, and threw a kiss back at her old father, merrily, as they dashed off. “I hate like shucks to have her go with that sno ikin' villain; but it did seem the only way to git him out o’ the way jist now, an’ I guess Ned 'll look after her. Bless the old boy!” They rode along merrily, Tess enjoying the mountain breeze and the purpose she had undertaken. They had been absent two hours, when, as they passed a low growth of mountain bushes, a man stepped forward and dealt the horse which the girl rode a cruel blow. Black Ned reared and swerved to the right so violently that the saddle girths broke; then he tore away up the road, leaving Tess, white and bleeding, on the stony ground. CHAPTER NHL THE WIDOW’S SURPRISE When Black Ned reared and plunged so violently, and dashed homeward minus his rider, Dr. Marling, with great difficulty, restrained bis own frightened animal and leaped from his back to the side of his companion. “Curs? the wretch!” hissed the Doctor, as he felt her feeble, heart-beats. “I don’t believe there are any bones broken, but she is stunned, and perhaps injured internally. Whoa! curse yon!” to his horse. “What am Ito do with her? This devil will never bear a double burden. I believe I hear a carriage. Ah, she shows signs of reviving.” And he bathed her face from the contents of a vial in his medicine ease, which he invariably carried with him. The vehicle, bearing a party of tourists, drew near. “Oh!” “An acc dent! What has happened?” The Doctor lifted his hat with a cour.eous bow and explained: “Some m ilicious person struck her horse, and I was powerless to assist her nnt:l she was thrown. I think she in reviving, and if you will give her a place in your carriage I shall b ' most grateful.” “You are a doctor, 1 believe?” “Yes; Dr. Mniing, at your-service.” “Yon know best. Certainly, put her in with us; there is plenty of room. Yes, she is breathing easily now.” But poor little Tess only opened her black eyes once, and closed them again with a spasm of pain. “1 fear she is seriously hurt,” said one of the lady tourists; “bow I wish we had her home.' When afl’ionted, indignant Black Ned dashed off toward the city, riderless, he had little idea of the consternation he w-ml<l bring. Join Scott was smoking nis atiernoon cigar when the horse, reeking with sweat and covered with foam, dashed toward him. ‘'Ned? Heavens! where’s Tess? Oh, my darling, what has happened? A horse! a horse! quick!” he yelled. One was s<M»n run out, anil seven;! persons were mounted and following the frantic father as lie tore along in the direction the runaway horse had come. He met the par y as they approached the city. He beheld bis daughter, pa’e and dead, lie thought, and he turned in fury to the Doctor, who rode at the side of the carriage. “Y'ou’ve killed her, have you! You scoundrel, your life shall answer for this!” And as he spoke be drew forth a revolver and leveled it at the Doctor's head and fired. “Slow thar, pnrd!” sang cut a voice of a friend who h d liddin up behind him in time to knee!; the extinded arm up, and send the ball wide of its murk. “Held on a 1 it, give the feller a chance ter explain.” The Doctor’s eyes flashed threateningly, but he was accustomed to exercising great control over himself, and he said: “Mr. Scott, you are unjust, to put it mildly; and, besides, your daughter is not dead. I have done all I could for her. Some scoundrel who doc-8 deserve shooting sprang from 11, bush by the wayside and struck her horse a violent blow. The animal reared and plunged, the saddle girths broke, and she was thrown to the ground. I give you my professional word 1 do not believe she is injured seriously.” “But, don't 1 know yer to be a villain, any how?” muttered the enraged father. “Catch me ever lettin' you two git out o’ my sight agin, you sneakin’ covote!” Tess was carried tenderly to her room, a doctor that the old father could trust was summoned and pronounced her injuries not by any means dangerous, only severe, for she had revived sufficient to talk to her anxious father. “No, no, daddy, you’re wrong, I tell yon. Doctor Marling was at my s de. slightly in advance. Some one did rush out from the roadside ami strike po m, mettlesome Ned, just as be told you.” “Some friend o’ bis and hem. mark my word. Tess. 11l make ye mind a lit from this on, or ULknow the reason why. I'm jist as anxious to help little Lora and catch this ar pretty pair as anybody, but I won't have you goin’ and gettin’ into danger on no account.” “I won't, daddy, no more. I hope there is no need. There! isn't that the Doctor going out to visit his sister?” “Likely; wish I could hear a bit o’ their talk,” and the old ranchman gave a long, low, peen i ir whistle. Tess laughed understandingly. The first thing Doctor Marling said to his sisler, when alon ■ with her, was a remark hissed out savagely: “You're up to your old tricks, are you! Nothing will satisfy you but the gallows. I saw Pete. I know who sent him on his devilish mission.” “What do you mean? TVhat has happened?” “Bah! don't pretend innocence with me. The girl escaped with her life, but the accident throws us both mid r suspicion.” “I don’t care, I’m only sorry she wasn’t killed. Pete thought she was. Have you brought the box?” “Yes, here it is; but first fill out the checks. For this last interference I will just double the dose on you. Draw them up to the amount of two hundred thousand dollars.” “I won’t do it! You are crazy, and my bankers will think I am, also.” “I guess not; if you don’t I will keep tho papers. How much do you think Lora would, give forthem?” The widow bit her red lip 1 ntil it tiled, but took up her small writing-desk, filled out four cheek-, ns requested, and handed them over, hesitatingly, to her companion. He seized them eagerly, glanced at them, tossed her the box he held, as he crushed them down in Ins vest pocket. She snatched the box in a nervous flurry of anxiety and eagerness, and demanded the key. “The key! the key!” she cried, glancing toward the open grate, wheye a small coal hid burued.

He slipped it from his watch chain and gave it (o her. Sho turned the key, the lock clicked, the jeweled lid flew open, but tho box was empty. Jasper crouched as low as possible in the cold water of the stream, and watched eagerly in the darkening shades of nightfall for the party that was drawing nt .. him. On they came, splash went their horses in the water. He saw to his surprise that they were white men, about six, well mounted and heavily armed. They were not soltliers. He guessed at once that they were road agents, probably members of tho very band in whose power ho had been so recently. On they splashed across the stream within a few feet of him, but fortunately not perceiving him. No sooner had they reached the outskirts of the Indian village than Jasper made his way as quickly as possible out of die chilling water toward a near mountain. The country was wholly strange, he was wet to the skin, and the evening air was cool. But ho possessed a vigorous frame, and a ducking was of small moment. lie longed intensely for his rifle and revolvers, and glanced back uneasily toward the village. • “If I but possessed a horse,” he thought, “I would stand some show in a’race. I wonder if it is possible to steal one out?” [TO BE CONTINUED. | Shades for Autumn. The autumn wraps are shown in jetted canvas material and coarse woolen goods, striped with colored cables, chains, or lines. Beaded etamines are also seen. T! o colors for mantles of all kinds amdihlia, bronze, myrtle, pigeon gray, and reseda. Short mantles of velvet and plush are likewise in fashion. Some of these affairs show delicate gathered plastrons, extending all the way down the front to the waist. The trimmings for all kinds of mantles are beaded galloon, and beaded and chenille fringes. A very pretty basque is made in navyblue woolen material; a wide plastron of white surah, plaited, runs from the neck to the waist, where it draws into a point. At the sides of this plastron are plac d wide revets, rt> ming back over tin* shoulders, and meeting behind in a point. A high military collar is worn. The Fedora front has reappeared, and very many stilish dresses are made n this way. The loose vests worn w!l these costumes are sometimes inagnilii ently embroidered in beaded des gns. For tailot-made dresses, the ] ostilion basqu ■ is by fur the most popular form. Some of these gowns are ma le nitli polonaises. Peasant l.odiees, lnc?d above a skirt plastron, which is I ordered with aid • ielvet revers, are seen on some of the latest dresses. Plaited panels, beginning at the waist and running all the way down the Hid but in tin* Baine material as the kirt, are also seen. They are boidered with rows of small buttons of tho same color. Some very beautiful para - >ls are seen in the streets now. They are trin med with lace over a satin foundation. Others are in the most brilliant shades that th-* eye can *onceive. In many cases the pn sols are cairn d to match tin la.! - s' U nm l In place of the simple folds of i io h < r velvet, whi- h have been popular so lon :, aedgieg for the neek ami wsists, t ill' ni ls and ruches are to be revived. Telle fr 1 s w ill be seen in plain wmte and cob ts. Some <fth m<r ■hi 'i h I > edging, or ro < cr i-f.ii. In this i-ii'V thev are teimed “ jackdaw ” frills. W hite f fids of silk mull, which are very delicate an I soft, are edged with pretty liitb silver beads. There are no prominent i.ov< Iti s of style m dressmaking for tho com ng season. Almost any variety of cor age may be worn, jiostilious leading in favor. I’oJonvises have le. n revived to some 1 xtent. \ e-ts and plastrons ar - -till extensively used in trimming all kind- of Inisques. Skirts are allowed the sun ■ wide r nge. In many models the over-dra; eiy i< slightly longer and fuller than before, but they are not allowed tomass near the waist, as that w uld interfere with the slimness of ihe figure. The back is always dnqa d bo ifla .t over the hips. Our large houses now employ m n taillors especially em aged in the production of ladies’ riding habits. Ihe finest vi rieties are made of black broadcloth, and fashioned very simply indeed, but they tit the figure exquisitely. The skirt, as usual, is formed support the knee. In some shapes th skirt is shoiter than formerly. Y’oung ladies will continue to wear linen collars, cuffs, and chemisettes, on tailormade costumes. The style is a simple one, and seems b<st adapted to th s mod? of dress. Blue serge is the material most in use for yachting suits this fall. The skirt is plaited all the way down the front, very scant overdr.qiery. On each sdeis a wide panel of white serge, garnished with a wide gold braid. The bodice opens ujion a wide white vest, and the rovers are also white. In millinery many different designs are shown, all more or less becoming. Vv alking hats of brown straw (straw will not leave the streets for some time to come) have tlie brims turned up very high on the left side, and faced with dark brown velvet, garnished with gold cord. Brown ribbon of a golden shade is arranged gracefully and Icpsely about the base of the tall crown, and in front a huge cluster of bows is formed, surmounted by osprey feathers. Pre ty and jaunty felt hats of navy blue, are lined with velvet of the same color, and tastefully trimmed w ith I lue, garnet, and golden ribb. n, with a single ostrich plume. High, narrow bows of gros-grain ribbon in various shades ate very largely used for millinery. The newest styles show these bows arranged in du-ter- of three loops, all being of different colors. Aigrettes, birds, and wings are usid with this mode of trimming. A dainty promenade costume for a young lady, recently noticed, has a plaited corsage of striped woolen material, belted with velvet, a long Knot of ribbon falling from the belt on the right side. It has a collar and jabot of whit ? lace. The sleeves are rather short, with cuffs of velvet, and they are supplimented by long musquetnire or gantlet gloves. The front drapery is in an irregular form, and exposes a wide stretch of the underskirt on both sides. The latter ii perfectly plain. At the back the over-drapery is j oufed over the hips, but falls in straight folds. Ribbons will be largely used on a great many models. They will appear as bows and clusters, and also sewed on flat, in the same way as braid is used. Wide black velvet ribbon, with picot edges, will be employed to make vests, or rath r imitation vests, which are formed by wide loops of ribbon arranged one abnve the other, and the edge of each falling over the other. Wrappers for morning wear are in considerable favor, and now play quite an impor ant part in a lady's wardrobe. They should appear loose and neglige, but at tho same time must sit perfectly to the figure. For this reason they are taken well in at the back, but tho front is well covered with [niffs of lace, and the skirt is loose and without overdrapery. They had a cholera scare over in lowa ! the other day. 'The remarkable thing abwut ; it was the number of good citizens who had । to visit tho drug-fitores fur cholera renmdv. i lowa was peyej’ before so careful of her I health

ORGANIZED LABOR. Annual Address of General Master Workman Powderly, of the Knights of Labor. Recent Strikes Touched Upon, and the Blame for Deeds of Violence Located. To the members of the General Assembly: If we tiro guided by tho experience of tho past, and act accordingly, wo can plaoo tho order upon a footing so safe and sure that no assaults from its enemies can injure it. If wo are not guided by that experience, if wo fail to road aright tho signs of the times, and we close thia General Assembly without having improved on the past, we will fail to properly represent those who sent us hero. The rapid increase in organization since tho Hamilton session of tho General Assembly was most marvelous. Au examination of tho reports of the General Secrotary-Treasurer forthe year ending July 1, 1880, will show that in ono year 4,0 >8 assemblies have boon organized, Tho new members so suddenly brought together could not bo properly assimilated. Thousands have been attracted toward the order through more curiosity; others have come for purely selfish motives; while tho groat bulk of our new recruits have joined us for tho good that they ou Id do. Quito a sow have entered our order for tho purpose of redressing their existing wrongs, and, before waiting to learn anything concerning the duty of tho Knight to the order, have plunged into rash and ill-considered strikes. Tho troubles coming from this direction began while tho Inst Genornl Assembly was in session. Tho car-drivers of St. Louis were organized under promise from the Organizer that they would receive aid, unstinted, in case of a strike. Even before tho receipt of their charter they were on strike. Their proceedings were characterized by such utter disregard for our laws and teachings, that tho paid and known agents of their employers, the detectives, had no difficulty in securing tho passage of motions of a violent character. It is an established fact that men who wore employed by detective agencies stood up on the floor of that assembly, made inflammatry speeches urging men to deeds of v iolonce, and urged that the property of tho street-car companies be destroyed. It was only tho giMsl sense of tho mon that prevented such outrages from being perpetrated, although these agents of a nefarious spy system induced some desperate men to blow up tho curs 1 the streets. For those outrages tho order .is in no way responsible. The St. Louis ear troubles wore but tho beginning of tho tidal wave of strikes and boycotts which swept over t. e country, and which strained tho strength and resources of your general officers almost beyond their powers of endurance. The Southwest strike begun when tho time ami attention of the general officers were taken up v ith other matters of vital iinportanco. No notice of tho contemplated action was given to us, and we knew- nothing whatever concerning it or the causes leading to it until it had been in progress several days. It has been asserted that I condemned tho men while thev were on strike. No such statement ever eseapid my Ups. Tho only statement of mine that could bo made to appear in the light of a cond'.'innntion was that contained in my secret circular of the Eith of March, 11 copy of which is herewith submitted. I did not not approve of that strike. I could not do so, since e ntldonce enough was not reposed in tho Gem'ral Executive Board to give them a chance so u i-iimne into tho grievances which th? members of District Assembly 101 co.iiplained of. It was only when tho threat was mud< to stop every wheel in the United States and engage tho whole order in the difficulty that I raised my voice in denial. I did that in defense of tho order and tho country. lam quite willing to a sue e all the .esponiiibilitios ut*iehed to tho net, and would do the same thing again under similar circ uni stances. That the men of tho Southwest suffered •vroiigs is true; they were mnnv and grievous ; and it Is my flrm belief that tho railway coinpanics, with a full knowledge of what those grievances were, precipitated tho tight themselvi s nt n time w hen it would appear to tho world that the strike was for an insiguifleant cause. I cun do no better than to submit tho re|„>rt of Brothers Litehnian mid McGuire. Th> se two membe.s were by me personally detoib'd to go witli the < ongrcssiiinal Committee, and with that committee examine into tho strike and its causes, so (hat an earlyreport mu lit be i,Hide to the order by its own representatives If the position which I took during the strike was wrong, then the entire order ■ 11 .tniui I me in it, for when I issued the appetil for aid to supp<at those whom the companies refund to tr» at with, I was g< nerously susta ned, as 11 reference to the report of the Genoral S a vouiry-Treasurer will show. The documents and correspondence relating to that strike uro nt your disposal. The eight hour strike which took place May 1 was not successful except in cases where employers and employes were acting in harmonv, or where employers were willing to adopt the plan. In man cases tile old system of working long hours has been revived. Tho Federation of Trades recommended the Ist of May, but adopt*.-d or suggested no definite plan by which tiie short-hour system could bo inaugurated. I cautioned our members against rushing into this movement. I had the right to do it. and am firm in the belief that had I not done so great loss would have been entailed upon vast numbers of our assemblies. XVhat I said in my secret circular of March 13 has been severely criticised, and I have been accused of opposing the eight-hour movement. No statement over was further from tho truth. I opposed the strike of Muy 1 because I knew that neither workmen nor employ ers were ready for it, because the education which must always precede intelligent action had not been given to those most in need of ih because no definite, business-like plan for the inauguration of the oiglit-hour movement had been mapped out. In fact, no preparat ons had boon made to put the pir n, if it can be called 11 plan, into execution. These are the reasons why I opposed the movement May-1, and for these same reasons do I still oppose it. A reduction of tho hours of labor is a necessity, and sooner or later must be had ; but wo must not forget that in many places the tonhour plan has not been adopted yet. It may do very well for an organization which looks after the interests of but ono craft, or calling, to neglect those who stand most in need of help, but a Knight of Labor must never close his ey es to the wants of the humblest of his fellowcreatures. The very discussion of the sudden introduction of the eight-hour plan injured business, so much so that in many places men were reduced to half-time, or thrown out of employment altogether. Millions of dollars’ worth of work was left undone because of the uncertainty in regard to taking contracts, or in making engagements to perform work. Never was it more clearly demonstrated that “an injury to one is tire concern of all” than in the movement I am speaking of. The house-builder, through uncertainty as to how many hours of labor his employes would work for him, made no contracts to erect buildings, and the carpenter was thrown out of employment; the man who made the windowglass, the man who made the nails—in fact, every man or woman engaged in the manufacture of articles which go to build or furnish a house —suffered through tlie attempt to enforce the eight-hour system May 1. The move was in the right direction, but the time and circumstances were not suitable. Before the eighthour plan is adopted the Knights of Labor and the trades unions of America must lay aside their jealousies and differences, come together, name a day on which to put the plan into execution, adept the plan of action, which must be gra Inal and such as will not inflict injury upon either employer or w man. The plan presented by Mr. Norton, .f Chicago, to the special session of tho General Assembly at Cleveland is 11 good ono in 11 larly every particular, and if the workingmen’s organizations and the manufacturers’ associations agree upon putting into practice such a plan it can be done without jar or friction. No workin man need strik< nor need business be unsettled. Why shot.; I it not be done? Either adopt a. plan for the perfection of this idea, or else place it in the hands of the incoming General Executive Board, with instructions to perform the duty. If we do not do either let us strike the twenty-first declaration from our preamble and no longer proclaim to the world that we are in favor of eight hours for a day 's labor. Before a short-hour system that will be of any liencflt to mankind can be inaugurated the relation which tlie workman bea s to tho laborsaving machine must undergo a radical change. Shorten the hours of labor under our present system, and the streets will not be emptied of their idle thousands. More machines will bo erected, and more children called into service to feed them. Tho assertion that the advocate of short hours desires to stop production is false. It is to make production gradual, healthy, and have it keep peace with tho wants of the consumer, keeping all min employed, so that idleness will disappear, and the producer remain a 1 copßumor to bis fullest efipneity, that we desire

a, shortening of tho hours of labor. Visit our large and small factories, and you find that tho mechanic of the past is but tho feeder of tho machine of the present. Wo already hear of machines in course of perfection which will set tho typo and mold tho cigars faster than human hands can do tlie work ; and electricity xvill soon take the throttle-lover from the hund of the man xvho runs tho locomotive. The day will soon dawn when these agencies will bo doing their work; and, when that day does come, the mechanic, now so proud of his calling, will stand face to face with the alternative of asking for charity, or the adoption of tho calling of the street scavenger. When that day comes, tho man who now seeks to array labor against labor in asserting that the “3 a day man should not move in tlie same society circles with the man who works for $1 a day” will either seek to crowd tho fl a day man out of his place or accept tho crumbs of charity to i 1 stain life. History will repeat itself, and tho light for existence will be waged with unrelenting fury. Tho machine must become tho slave of tho man, instead of keeping tho man in attendance on and subordinate to the machine. A plan of co-operation through which the workman may control tho machine no operates must one day supersede tho present system. To properly map out such a plan requires more time than I have had or am likely to have at my disposal. I can only co-operate with others in the work. The thirteenth article in our declaration of principles reads : “Tho prohibition by law of the emplojment of children under fifteen years of ago in workshops, mines, and factories.” Tho end sought for in carrying this declaration into effect is not that tho child may live in idleness ; it is not that more adults may bo employed. It is that tho child of the poor man may bo enabled to acquire an education to equip him for the duties which will in future fall upon him as man and citizen. We cannot afford to pass this question by and legislate <>n some simple question of trade discipline. The question of child-labor and education is the most important that can come before us now or at any other time. With an education all things are easy of accomplishment; without it, hope itself almost dies, and liberty is a farce. In our organizations of labor—and it has been so from the beginning—we tako up tho work of reform when the subject is advanced in years—the new member must be above 16 years before wo admit him. Wo att mpt to drive from his mind tho false ideas gathered in from tho workshop, or, possibly, tho street corner. His habits are formed, and tho work that should have boon begun at seven years xvo take up at twenty or Inter in life. To attempt to settle so intricate a question ns tho ono wo are grappling with, or to successfully solve tho question, is 11 task so difficult that I do not wonder that men drop out of the ranks of labor organizations discouraged and hopeless, To make the necessary progress we must begin with the child and seo to it Hint he has an education. If tho principles of tho Knights of Labor are right—and few men question them—we should teach them to the young. It should be a part of the duty of every assembly to ascertain tho number of children who do not attend school in its vicinity, ieam what the causes are, and take stops to have them attend school. Tho sword may strike tho shackles from the limbs of the slave, but it is education and organization that make him a free man. He is still a slave whoso limbs alone have been freed. Os what avail is it to say that wo are laboring to ostnblish a system of co-operation, when that which is most essential to tlio success of co-operation is lacking? A business training is necessary to successfully carry on a co-opera-tivo enterprise. If the management of the largo or small concerns now in operation in this country were turned over to us to-day wo would but run them into the ground, for we lack the business training necessary to successfully operaiM thorn. Our vanity may prevent us from acknowledging this to be true, but we cannot deny it. It is through no fault of ours that it is true, but if it continues it will be our fault. 1 ask that a special Committee on Education bo appointed to prepare mid recommend to this General Assembly a plan for the hotter educati' n of tho American youth. The trouble w ith trades unions in which certain of our members and assemblies have been engaged was greatly magnified and distorted. I'll!' proceedinge of tlie Cleveland special session of th ’ General Assembly and the report of the General Executive Board submitted to you to dii' w ill be sufficient. I need not enter into details further than to say that there were mislukeH made on both sid a. Homo of our organizers ha\o been so zealous in their way 01 organizing that they have oncroaclied upon the prerogatives of other ftsso-iatioui; aMf on several occasions the rights of our members have I sen seriously interfered w ith by members of trades unions. Since the special session of the General Assembly over fifty eases of dispute between parties of our order and other societies have been placed before me for adjustment, it was not necessary to place these cases before tho General Executive Board, A sow lines in each instance was sufficient. and the trouble ended. To dig up past troubles is unnecessary, mid, in consultation witli prominent men of the trades unions, I was gratified to leuru that they had no desire to revive tho past For tho future I recommend that all matters likely to create a breach of tho peace between our order and any other bo at onco submitted to the executives of botli organizations. If a trade union complains of any action on tlie part of our order, lot the aggrieved party submit tlie matter to tho president of his union ; he to investigate, and failing to effect a remedy, to place tho matter before tlio General Mast r AS■ rkman and Executive Board. If tho aggrieved party is a member of an assembly of tlie Knights of iiiibor, let the some mode of procedure bo gone through with, and, above all things, let a sveedy and impartial investigation and an immediate settlement be made. This plan has worked well in every now case called to my attention since the Cleveland session and it is worth of adoption. More trouble has been caused us by men who profess to be members of the Knights of Labor than by members of trade unions. I respect tho man who, being a member of a trade union, does everything honorable in his power to defend and per)>etuate his organization ; but for the Knight of Labor who would even attempt to subordinate our order to any other I have nothing but contempt. In my estimation there is but one place for such a man, and that is on the outside of our order. If the representatives of the trade unions and of our order come together, and both are sincere in their devotion to their respective organizations, an honest anil satisfactory solution of every difficulty can be arrived at. No sacrifice of principle or regard for either organization need attend such ft meeting. But the man who through fear, policy, indifference, or a desire to acquire popularity, neglects the interest of tho order he represents is not honest, and should not be allowed to act in any capacity for anv society of workingmen. With the session of the General Assembly only three days away, it would not be possible for mo to say all that I would like to upon the questions that will come before us. My time has been entirely taken up with the detail work of the order, and I was forced to neglect this duty in order to give any time or attention to a preparation for the coming of the General Assembly. It will surprise you to learn that even at this moment, when every member knows full well that wo are assembled in general convention, Secretaries and members are addressing me at my office in the expectation of receiving an immediate reply. Letters and telegrams by the hundreds will flow in upon me even while the General Assembly is in session. Tho duties which called me away from home for the greater part of the year that has closed made it impossible to give proper attention to my correspondence. To read each letter addressed to me would occupy every moment of the twenty-four hours, leaving no time to answer or dictate an answer to any of them. I attended to nil that I could, and tho others will never be reached. If this is neglect of duty, then I am guilty ; but I have no apology to offer. I did all that I could do—more could not be expected of me. I have never, during tho seven years that I have served as General Muster Workman, made a member of this order a. subject of personal or public criticism or abuse. Such treatment bus not been accorded to me. W hether the intention was to have me reply through the public press I do not know, but I have made it a v ulo never to speak in criticism, harsh or otherwise, of a man, except when standing face to face with him. And I have as studiously refrained from replying to or denying attacks or accusations against me, except in the presence of those who made them. When called upon to defend the order or its principles, I have attempted to do so. I have been accused of displaying a “lack of nerve,” of “want of backbone,” and of being too “weak a man to lead a strong movement.” I have never replied to these charges, nor will I do so now. I simply point back to a record of seven years of service and ask this question: If, while bolding a position such as no man, living or dead, ever held before, with the full blaze ; of public scrutiny shining upon my every aci tion, with public opinion as ready to condemn I as to applaud, I have displayed a lack of | n rve or backbone, why is it that a I million men and women of nerve, backbone, and common-sense have gathered around the standard which was placed in my hands seven years ago by the founder of the order himself ? If I have been proven a weak man, who do so many strong mon support me? I dislike to speak of those matters, but I believe that, in justice to yourselves and me, you should know of 1 hem. By men who are not Knights of Labor I have been called weak because I discountenanced violence and hasty, ill advised action. I have no excuse to offer, for if this is an offense Jet Ihe General Assembly itself offer an apology. My views upon such questions were known to each General Assembly before my election as General Master Workman, and in electing me thev indorsed and made themselves responsible fpr these sentinjeme.

NUMBER 15.

INDIANA STATE NEWS. • —A man claiming to be an attorney and claim agent lias been operating in Hamilton County, drumming up claimants to Cherokee lands in Indian Territory. Ho’ asserted that persons Laving Cherokee b’ood in their veins were entitled to enter all the land they want, and for $25 in advance ho undertook to attend to the matter for them. Among those whom ho induced to advance the money were members of the Henly, Whicker, Perry, Allen, Barber, and other families, who now think they have been victimized. The same agent is said to be working Morgan County. —Considerable alarm has been created in Clark, Floyd, and in some portions of Spencer and Warrick Counties ov< r the ravages of a disease among the hogs. In many instances it is fatal in a few hours, while in other cases the animal recovers after only a short Imt apparently severe attack. A post-mortem examination was made on an animal that died recently, disclosing tho fact that the second lining of the stomach was fairly swarming with parasites, and it may be possible that the disease is not cholera, but tho still more dangerous trichiniasis. —Two Elkhart sportsmen went to Hudson Lake to hunt ducks. They failed to find any until the day of the big hail-storm, when they saw a flock of fifteen take refuge in a pond near by. After the storm had passed away, they picked up> nine of the fifteen ducks—all killed by the large hail. 'J hose they took homo with them, intending to pass them off as trophies of their skill, but a post-mortem examination by skeptical friends revealed no shotmarks, and the hunters were compelled to explain matters as above. —Glen Aliller, a park near Richmond, was the scene of a fierce and fatal combat between two elks a Sew days ago. The contestants were an old and a young buck whose antlers still showed their youthfulness by their velvet covering, while those of the old buck weie huge and strong, and the probable victor in many a previous rutting contest in his foimer forest home. The fight was an unequal one, and was quickly ended by the older one throwing tho younger to the ground and goring him to death. _ —Work has been begun on the gas well at Decatur. So far, the wells dug in Eastern Indiana, except the Eaton well, have been almost entire failures. At Bluffton tuid Portland they have begun well No. 2. However, the country about Decatur is almost an exact counterpart of the noted Findlay, 0., gas region, and the Decatur Natural Gas Company hope to strike a boomer in gas or oil within the next thirty days. —A short time since three men, beari the corpse of an old lady said to have di-^ Ci from the effects of a tumor, it Greenfieh" r Hancock County, appeared in Nie borhood of the Nicholson Cemetery, near the boundary line of Madison County, and sought aid in the matter of burial. Their stories as to the death and former residence of the deceased were not corroborative, and the matter is being investigated. —At Crawfordsville a horse driven by a small colored boy ran awn > and ran over a colored lady, badly bruising her. The horse then ran upon 11 sidewalk and struck a ladder upon which was Isaac "Warner, a brickmason, xvho w’as about twenty feet from the ground, doing some work. Mr. Warner was thrown upon the pavement and received serious injuries. The injuries of Mr. 'Warner may prove fatal. —Two men who passed a night in the hut near Princeton, where the bodies of Frank Stout and his father were found after their murder by Chris Emmons, say that the place is haunted by the ghost of Emmons. They describe their night there ’ as ono of horror, and that Emmons appeared in spirit and reacted the tragedy, winding up by shooting himself, as he did in life. —The Richmond Empire Steel Plow and Sulky Manufacturing Company has been organized with the following officers: James C. Ratliff, President; Thad. Gordon, Vico President and Superintendent; Samuel Bellis, Secretary, and Joseph Brown Treasurer; Lewis K. Harris and (‘barb s C. Crockett are directors. The company expects to begin operations about Nov. 1. — The Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue for Clark and several adjoining ! counties, reports that seventy-five fsiit distilleries are in operation in his district. The “stills” are manufacturing from one to I two hundred gallons each, daily, one havI ing already turned out over one hundred ! barrels, and that tho daily output will aggregate not less than 20,000 gallons. —Jeffersonville, not. content with being the Gretna Green of the State, is now trying to work up a reputation as a gambler’s paiadise. A local item states that fully 1,009 keno players from Louisville and New Albany were in tho city one night recently, and that no attempt was made to conceal the various games, all the houses running wide open. —Among the curiosities on exhibition at the fairs in the southern part of the State is a hybrid, whose sire was a stallion and whose dam was a jennet. The animal was raised in Washington County, and is the first product of the kind ever known in the Wabash Valley. —A monster antler was found by persons who are engaged in clearing out Yellow Creek, near Decatur, The antler is five feet lung and has six prongs, each measuring sixteen inches. The antler is well preserved, yet has doubtless been there for ages. —Tho Clerk of Vigo County has issued 372 marriage licenses so far this year, against 312 for the same time last year. —South Bond has several thousand less sparrows now than it had a short time ago, The large hail which fell there recently besides stripping the leaves from the shade trees, killed all the sparrows that had taken refuge among the limbs. - The Indiana Starch "Works, at FrankIm. will build a new crib that will bold GO.00(1 bushels of corn, which gives the concern, with its othei cribs, a storage capacity of 90,000 bushels. —St. Louis capitalists contemplate the erection of a large woolen mill at gouville, tp employ 1,300 men.